Dual-purpose exercise equipment

ABSTRACT

A dual-purpose exercise equipment includes a spin bike, a bicycle after removal of a rear wheel thereof, and a linking device arranged at one side of an axle of a flywheel of the spin bike and coupled with the bicycle. Thus, an individual user can selectively ride the spin bike or bicycle of the dual-purpose exercise equipment. Alternatively, two users can ride the spin bike and the bicycle respectively at the same time, enjoying riding a tandem bicycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to indoor exercise equipments and more particularly, to a dual-purpose exercise equipment that is a combination of a spin bike and a bicycle.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the rise of health consciousness, riding bicycle has become a very popular outdoor sport. However, if you encounter bad weather, such as raining, extreme cold, low light, or any other bad weather condition, you cannot enjoy the excitement of riding in the wind. Recently, some manufacturers design a bicycle trainer for indoor application. However, this design of bicycle trainer requires certain riding techniques. A beginner may be unable to keep the body in balance during riding. Further, the rollers of a bicycle trainer will contact the tires of the bicycle directly during riding, causing the tires to wear quickly. From the other point of view, spin bike can fill the relative shortage of bicycle, however, its monotonous riding method makes the rider feel bored and lack of riding happiness.

As stated above, image if we can provide an exercise equipment capable of rendering a bicycle-riding effect and maintaining a high level of safety, it will greatly enhance the fun of riding sports.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a dual-purpose exercise equipment, which offer the fun of riding a virtual bicycle as well as real bicycle, and is free from time, weather and place constrains.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a dual-purpose exercise equipment comprises a spin bike, a linking device, for example, speed-change gear arranged at one side of the axle of the flywheel of the spin bike and coupled with a bicycle after removal of a rear wheel of the bicycle. Thus, an individual user can selectively ride the spin bike or bicycle of the dual-purpose exercise equipment. Alternatively, two users can ride the spin bike and the bicycle respectively at the same time, enjoying riding a tandem bicycle.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating a speed change gear provided at one side of an axle of a flywheel of a spin bike in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates the outer appearance of a dual-purpose exercise equipment in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The structural details and effects of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification with reference to the annexed drawings. Further, it must be noted that, in the whole detailed description and claims of the invention, the words of front side, rear side, upper side, lower side, and other directional terms are defined to be that when a user sits on the saddle, the direction facing toward the handlebars of the spin bike or bicycle to be the front side and its reversed direction to be the rear side; the position below the elevation of the saddle or handlebars to be the lower side and its reversed direction to be the upper side.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a dual-purpose exercise equipment in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a spin bike 10, and a bicycle 20 after removal of a rear wheel thereof (see FIG. 4). The spin bike 10 is substantially similar to conventional spin bikes, comprising a bike frame 11, a saddle 12, a handlebars 13 and a flywheel 15. The main feature of the present invention is that a linking device is provided at one side of the axle of the flywheel 15. According to the present preferred embodiment, the linking device is a speed-change gear 16. The speed-change gear 16 is arranged on the axle of the flywheel 15 in a coaxial manner drivable by an external pedaling force to rotate with the flywheel 15 synchronously. The speed-change gear 16 comprises a gear cluster 161 and a hub 163. The gear cluster 161 is formed of a stack of concentric gear plates of different diameters.

The bicycle 20 is same as a conventional bicycle (see FIG. 4), comprising a bicycle frame 21, a saddle 22, a handlebars 23, derailleur shifters 24, a front wheel 25, and a drive chain set 26. Unlike a conventional bicycle, the bicycle 20 eliminates a rear wheel, and the rear lower end of the bicycle frame 21 is coaxially coupled to the speed-change gear 16 of the pin bike 10. Thus, a chain 27 of the drive chain set 26 of the bicycle 20 can be selectively coupled to one of the gear plates of the gear cluster 161, and the user can operate the shifter of the derailleur shifters 24 at the handlebars 23 to shift the engaged position between the chain 27 and the gear plates of the gear cluster 161 subject to the desired gear ratio. On the other hand, the flywheel 15 generates a damping force that simulates the real resistance produced upon riding of the bicycle 20 on an outdoor slope.

As stated above, the invention has a linking device (for example, speed-change gear 16) be mounted at an axle of a flywheel 15 of a spin bike 10 for the coupling of a bicycle 20 to form a novel exercise equipment. Thus, an individual user can selectively ride the spin bike or bicycle of the dual-purpose exercise equipment. Alternatively, two users can ride the spin bike and the bicycle respectively at the same time, enjoying riding a tandem bicycle.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dual-purpose exercise equipment, comprising: a spin bike comprising a bike frame, a saddle, a handlebars and a flywheel; and a bicycle after removal of a rear wheel thereof; wherein: a linking device is arranged on an axle of said flywheel of said spin bike and coupled with a chain of said bicycle for virtual riding as well as physical riding.
 2. The dual-purpose exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said linking device is a speed-change gear.
 3. The dual-purpose exercise equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein said speed-change gear comprises a gear cluster and a hub.
 4. The dual-purpose exercise equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein said speed-change gear mounted at said bike frame corresponding to said flywheel in a coaxial manner relative to the axle of said flywheel for synchronous rotation with said flywheel subject to an external pedaling force. 